Avenge Marriage

CH-2 The One I Was Waiting For

                                                                                Amber

"You're too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever," 

Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak ; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances. 

I smiled to myself as I shut the book in my hand with a soft thud, feeling a weird warmth fill my insides. I stretched on the wooden seat by the lake and glanced up at the clear blue sky. Big white clouds floated across it, dancing in their own rhythm. The flowers from the big tree beside the small pond with its stony ledge and tiny gold fishes floating around fell on the clear surface making ripples across it. I loved spring. I loved everything about it, the nature coming back to life, filling the world with bewitching beauty and giving a sense of hope and serendipity. 

I raised my face to the warm sun, stroking my hand on the worn off hard cover of my favourite book, one of the literary geniuses of all time, a soul satisfying romance for incurable romantic like me, Austen's masterpiece...The Pride And Prejudice. There was nothing that I don't love about this classic and every time I read it, I feel happiness, hope and unconditional love filling every inch of my body. It was a beautiful feeling...love.

"Amber!" The shrill female voice made me almost jump out of my skin and I turned to see, a tall blonde striding towards me like a bull out of control. She looked agitated for some reason.

"Hello, Vera," I managed a smile and she rolled her eyes at me.

Vera Vazquez was the younger adored daughter of the Vazquez family and my best friend, though she was more like my elder sister. By nature. By age, I was a few months older than her.

She stood in front of me in all her presence, wearing her designer gym clothes that revealed her flat stomach and toned arms. Vera was stunning and she knew that. The aura of confidence that she radiated perfectly complimented her noble bloodline. She was beautiful, confident, and poised, a perfect modern-day princess because Vera was anything but traditional. It was a trait that worried her parents exceedingly especially over the past few days for some reason they were yet to reveal.

Her ocean-blue eyes appraised me with a grim, impatient expression and I raised my brow at her.

"What's that look for?" I inquired and she rolled her eyes at me.

"I have been looking for you all around," She cried, wiping her face with some wet tissues as she sat down beside me.

Pulling out her sipper bottle, she took large swigs of her detox water, whatever in hell was that while I patiently waited for her to calm down. Vera was very impatient and sometimes all over the place. Her parents therefore always counted on me to keep her in check since I was opposite of her. I was comparatively calmer and reserved with a good hold on my emotions but controlling Vera was not an easy task. She could be anything but controlled.

"Why don't you pick up her phone?" She inquired, squinting at me. "And ¡Por el amor de Cristo! Amber, why are you always holed up here reading that same old book?"

"Why were you looking for me?" I asked, trying my distraction technique on her. There was in no way I was going to explain the importance of that same old book to her. People who don't read can never understand the beauty of it. And sometimes I even feel sorry for them. They can never experience the beauty of escaping to a different world without even needing to move a finger.

"The designers are here with dresses for the bloody ball tomorrow," She answered, rolling her eyes. "They are waiting in my room to do our fittings. And then mamá and papá want to talk to us about something. Me actually but they want Vin and you to be there. God knows what it is now,"

"Oh, I see," I muttered and she nodded her head.

"Come on, let's go. They have been waiting for long. Mamá almost dragged me out of the gym,"

"Yeah...right after you," I muttered.

The annual masquerade ball was a big thing among the rich and wealthy of the society that included all sorts of nobility, businessman or woman, politicians, etc etc. It was a big show of wealth and power. Every year one family was responsible for arranging the entire thing which was supposed to be for charity purposes but I don't think that was the main aim here. It was just a platform to portray how much power one possessed. How much one can splurge. And I wasn't sure if I was very keen on the entire concept.

This year it was even more important for it was being arranged by the most influential and probably the earliest aristocratic lineages of the country, The Navarro's. So this year, it was a real big deal for everyone but especially us. Not exactly us but Vera. The Vazquez were as puissant and influential as the Navarro's. The Navarro's, Vazquez, and the Ortega's, all hailed from aristocratic lineages and were held in high regard even now, which was why tomorrow's event even though hosted by the Navarro's was equally important for our family as well. 

Vera and I have never been to this ball ever before or we might have had but we were too young then. And before we started to ingrain sense and understanding both of us were packed up and send to boarding school in Paris. From there we went to London where Vera pursued her degree in ECON from the London School of Economics much to her dislike and I opted for music and pursued my bachelor's in it specializing in strings and more specifically the Viola from the Royal Academy of Music, London. It's been less than a year since we have been home.

Mamá was too hyped up about the entire thing and the thought brought a smile to my face as I followed Vera to her room.

The Vazquez were not my family in literal terms. My full name was Amber Moreno and I was actually nothing to them. I was a housekeeper's daughter. When my parents died in an accident, I was just five years old. At that time, Arnold and Vienna Vazquez took me under their protection and brought me up as their own daughter. I grew up here, in this big beautiful mansion spread over acres and acres of land, playing with Vincent and Vera. I can't remember if they ever made any distinction among us three. I was provided with equally flamboyant education like Vincent, the eldest son of the family, and Vera. I was provided with just as much luxury as they had at their disposal and for that, I will always, always be grateful. Over the years, I learned to address them as mamá and papá. And not just address them but if I could ever acknowledge and love someone like my parents, that would be them.

"Vera! Amber!" The plump woman hovering around in Vera's bedroom that was scattered with dress bags and shoe boxes at the moment launched herself towards us, almost knocking us over.

"Hello, Aldea. It's nice to meet you too," I murmured, hugging her. Aldea Blanco was mamá's designer of choice when it comes to big occasions like the one tomorrow. She was renowned for her couture and there was no doubt mamá has to have spent a small fortune to hire her. I have known her for a long time and I adored her.

"You have gained weight," Vera muttered in disapproval and Aldea made a face at her. Vera was obsessed with maintaining her body. With Adriana Lima as her obsession, I expected just as much. Her secret dream was to be a Victoria's Secret model someday. This was something only I knew. If anyone else did, they would get a coronary.

"You girls look great," A male voice said and we turned to see Felipe, Aldea's forever assistant smiling widely at us. "You will pass out when you see what we have got for you. The best of the best,"

"As if we deserve anything less," Vera winked, dramatically fanning herself. "Let's hit the road then, shall we?" 

"We shall," Felipe smiled, looking proud.

The next two hours were spent, trying on a hundred things out all at once. One dress after another, shoes and accessories to go with that. It was taxing and just to merely escape the chore, I selected a black gown with a sweetheart neckline, a fitted sequined bodice, and a full bell-shaped skirt. I had no idea how I was going to walk around wearing that but it was pretty. And it was black.

"This neckline will look stunning on you," Aldea murmured appreciatively as she did the fittings while Filipe tended to Vera, making a hell of lot of noise together.

"You have gorgeous neck and collar bones," She smiled. "Now, this will have to be worn underneath this to give it more of a shape. She removed something from another dress bag and I stared wide-eyed at it.

"What's that?" I demanded.

"An overbust lingerie corset to go with your gown," She said, pointing at the thing. "It's made up of lace and silk with a built-in garter stocking and...well you can see,"

"Why does it look so humiliating," I accused. "And uncomfortable,"

"Humiliating? Men go berserk over these," She said, rolling her eyes. "And fashion is always uncomfortable. If you want to look good...well it comes at a price. Women used to wear steel corsets in the Victorian Era just to make their waist look five times smaller. Kim Kardashian fasted for twenty hours to fit into her Met Gala dress. You get the deal,"

"She is right," Vera muttered, appearing out of her walk-in. She looked stunning, almost like a barbie in her rose-pink one-shouldered gown with pretty pink crystals and an equally heavy skirt as mine.

"Wow...this looks amazing," She exclaimed, running her hand on the smooth silk of the corset. "I want this too,"

"Filipe has yours,' Aldea answered. "So. We are done with the gown and the fittings. Your gloves are in the dress bags and shoes over there. Guiseppe is still working on your masks. Filipe will deliver it later today,"

"I want feathers in mine. And sequins," Vera murmured, scrolling through her phone. Aldea made a face. She doesn't like Vera much.

"Do you have any special request, Amber?" She turned to me and I shrugged. I had no interest in any of this. I had no interest in the ball itself except for...just one thing. One person.

"No. I am fine," I replied and she smiled at me.

After they were gone, I dragged all my stuff to my room, disposing them off in the closet, and then headed with Vera to meet with mamá and papá at the lounge.

"I have a bad feeling about this, I am telling you," Vera grimaced and I gave her an assuring pat on her back.

"It could be nothing but a check list for things to remember at the ball," I answered. "It would be our first time after all isn't it?"

"I hope they would stick to that," She muttered, opening the double glass doors and walking inside.

The lounge was...a lounge. It was just used for...well lounging about. That was the best way I could describe it. There was a huge bar at one corner and a curved white leather sofa in the exact center, adorned by a huge chandelier exactly above it. At one corner was a big pool table and just in front of the sofa, covering up the entire wall was a gigantic flat screen that was now switched into daily news.

Vincent was lounging on one of the barstools, watching the news while papá and mamá were on the sofa, reading something.

"Ah...Vera and Amber," Mamá exclaimed as we walked in and took our seats on the two round chairs facing the couch. I shot a look at Vin and he caught my eyes and shook his head.

Uh-oh...not good news.

"Did you have your fittings?" Mamá asked and we nodded our head. "Good. You have to be the best tomorrow. The highlight of the entire thing,"

"Why?" Vera demanded and mamá scowled. Vera was really too outspoken for her own good sometimes.

"What do you mean why?" She demanded. "Did you forget who you are? Where do you stand at? Please don't annoy me by asking such stupid questions," Vera opened her mouth to argue but I grabbed her hand and shook my head slightly. She scowled at me but shut down nevertheless.

"You were looking for us?" I inquired and she nodded her head.

"I don't want any stupidity on your part tomorrow," She warned and I knew it was aimed at the woman beside me. "No overdrinking. No speaking nonsense. You girls have been brought up with utmost care and elegance and that is what you should portray. I don't want any stupid behavior. Especially not in front of the Navarro's. And Vera, you would do good to get familiar with Ivan Navarro. In fact you should stick by his side the entire evening," 

I frowned at her words. What was that supposed to mean? 

"Why? Who is he?" Vera inquired, making a face and instantly got a pointed look from her father. 

"The elder son of the Navarro family," Vincent answered, walking over to sit beside his mother. "The heir to unfathomable riches and the man you..." He shut down instantly and I think mamá pinched him or something. There was definitely something going on here. 

"I couldn't care any less," Vera replied, with the usual air of ignorance in her tone. "Is that all? May I go now. I have stuff to do," 

"Yeah. You can go," Mamá scowled at her. "Amber...you wait, I have something to talk to you about," 

"¡Está bien!," I nodded and Vera shot me a tell-me-everything-later look, before stomping out. After making sure that she was indeed gone, mamá turned to me. 

"Let's go for a walk, shall we?" She suggested and I frowned but nodded nevertheless. I glanced at Vincent and he shrugged. 

"Amber...there is something that I need you to do for me," She said as we slowly strolled across the lawn. 

"Of course. Anything you want," I said and she gave me a smile. 

"You are the most sensible of the three which is why I am asking you for this," She said, looking a bit grim. "You remember Ivan, right?" She gave me a knowing look and I nodded, biting my lips. Of course I knew him. How couldn't I? The last time I saw him, he was ten years old maybe, almost drowned to death in the ice-cold river. And the next time I saw him, I was on my way to catch the tube. He was standing high and mighty, completely poised on the cover of Elle and I have been carrying him with me ever since. He was safely locked in one of my closets.

How can I not remember him when he was the one I have loved all my life?

"Amber?" Mamá called distracting me and turned my eyes to her face.

"Yeah?" I muttered and she frowned at me.

"Did you hear what I was saying?" She demanded and I nodded slightly.

'You were talking about Ivan Navarro. What about him?" I inquired.

"As you may be aware of already, Ivan is the elder son and heir of the Navarro family. Of course, Helena has a son too, Dario. But he is not the immediate heir,"

I had no idea why she was telling me all that but I nodded my head nevertheless. I had no interest in his money or if he was the immediate heir or not. It was none of my business.

"Mamá..." I said, pulling her to the gazebo so that she can sit and talk properly. "Is something wrong? What are you so bothered about?" She turned her blue eyes to me and gave me a small smile.

"I am not sure if I should call this good news or a problem," She answered, obviously bothered. "But..."

"But?" I prompted and she sighed.

"After that incident by the river," She began, her eyes studying me. "Ivan...Ivan was promised to Vera. For marriage,"

I stared at her blankly and felt the ground beneath me shift. It took some time for me to process the information. And yet, my heart was not ready to accept it.

"Amber?" Mamá called.

"And the problem is?" I asked silently.

"Vera. Who else," She rolled her eyes in frustration. "Helena and I met up a few days ago for lunch. And we decided that it was time now. Ivan was nearing thirty. Vera is twenty-four. It's perfect. She intends to carry on with the wedding proceedings right after the ball. Which was why I asked Vera to stick by Ivan tomorrow. Get to know him well. And I want you to help with that. Please ensure that she stays by his side tomorrow,"

"Vera will..." I muttered and she nodded her head.

"Retaliate. I know," Mamá grimaced. "That's why I haven't told her anything yet. I want her to see Ivan for herself and I am sure that will change her mind. Who wouldn't want Ivan Navarro? He is the talk of the town. Everybody wants him. We are extremely lucky that the Navarro's chose us to strengthen the ties with. It would be extremely beneficial for both families. And with Vincent already in a steady relationship with Cecilia Ortega, I don't think we can ask for anything better than that,"

I nodded my head. I had nothing to say anyway.

"Please ensure that she stays by him tomorrow, sweetie," Mamá continued. "I know I can count on you. Hell, if only Vera was half as agreeable as you are. I will need your help to convince her. We will give the news to her after the ball tomorrow. So please, just ensure that Vera doesn't create any problem and stays by Ivan's side. Can you do that?"

"Yeah. I will try my best," I answered and she smiled, stroking my hair softly.

"Once all this is done. We will find just as amazing a guy for you too," Mamá said and I gave her a wry smile.

"Is that all?" I asked, eager to escape. She nodded her head so I bid her goodbye and headed back to my room with my heart tearing to pieces inside. 

Shutting the door behind me, I flopped down on the bed and stared at my reflection on the flat screen in front of me. Unlike Vera's pink princess-themed room, mine was much simpler. It was huge of course, which was the theme of the Vazquez mansion in general. Everything was huge here. But still, it was comparatively simpler done in white, black, and grays. Because I was not a princess like Vera. I was just a simple girl on whom the Vazquez had bestowed their kindness. I was nothing more than an orphan no matter how many pairs of shoes and how many wardrobes full of clothes I have.

Then why was I feeling so bad? I don't have any right to feel the stinking sadness that was overwhelming me to the point that I wanted to cry. Ivan Navarro was royalty and not just in literal terms. To think that one day, he might choose me...a girl with no royal lineage or prospects, wasn't that utmost stupidity?

And forgoing all that, he doesn't even know me. Does he remember me? Can he remember me if he sees me tomorrow? Most probably no. That day happened years ago. He most probably would want to forget everything about it. Unlike me, he was not stupid. 

I fell in love with a small boy when I was just eight years old. How? I don't know but for years I was lost in my fantasy world hoping that we were meant to be and that one day destiny will bring us together. And that world was so beautiful, so full of love that I completely forgot where I actually stood.

I was Amber Moreno. I was a nobody. And in this world where I was living, that was all I was and ever will be...

A nobody...

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A/N: Hello my lovely readers! How are you all? I hope everyone is great! Here's the next update. The story has just started but I hope you are liking it so far :) If you do please don't forget to leave your comments!